Taiwan picks new economics minister in reshuffle

(AP) Taiwan's incoming premier has named an air carrier's chairman to be the island's economics minister in a partial Cabinet reshuffle.

Chang Chia-chu, chairman of China Airlines, will be the island's first businessman-turned-economics minister in decades.

In a statement late Sunday, incoming Premier Jiang Yi-huah said he anticipated Chang would initiate measures to bolster the island's flagging economy.

Chang, an engineer by training, has been praised for turning China Airlines into a money-making enterprise after just two years at the helm.

Jiang also named respected economist Kuan Chung-ming to head the Council for Economic Planning.

The Cabinet reshuffle was sparked by Premier Sean Chen's resignation last week. Popular support for the government has sagged amid a continuing economic slowdown. President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating is less than 20 percent.